Hosiery and method of making the same



1 riai MEHMH Oct. 27, 1936. A GOODMAN 2,059,097

HOSIERY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 26, 1932 3sheets-Sheet2 \EKEZ IEQEQEAU {1% ll g A Jmoz. J5 6mm Oct. 27, 1936. J, GOODMAN HOSIERY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 25 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 27,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOSIERY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SALE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to stockings. It is especially applicable to womens hosiery. However, its use is not so restricted and it can be used in any type of stocking or in other garments. The essence of my invention consists in the production of a stocking comprising a plurality of independently formed sections of double or single fabric which are joined together in such manner as to give certain novel effects and advantages in construction and appearance. A sewing stitch formation is preferably employed for the purpose, the specific character of which will vary, as hereinafter more fully pointed out, according to the construction and eiTects desired in any particular embodiment. The proposed construction enables different parts of a stocking to be conveniently made of materials of different character, and permits one or more supplementary fabric sections to be secured to the open end of a preformed completed stocking. The invention is particularly useful in making a stocking top as the sectional construction enables any desired length to be attained and permits the incorporation therein of certain novel ornamental efiects. The Various sections may comprise single or double fabric. In some cases they are equipped at one or both ends with a finished edge, thus insuring a neat joint between the edges of adjacent sections, and rendering the same integrally complete so that one or more sections may be removed to. shorten the stocking without leaving an unfinished edge.

One object is to make a stocking long enough to meet the needs of any user. At certain places in the length of thestocking it can be severed or otherwise adjusted to a shorter length to satisfy particular needs.

Another object is to present a line of demarkation at various places in its length of an 4 ornamental character such as will give the stocking enhanced beauty.

Another object is to make the stocking of a plurality of sections, the respective sections being joined. Thus, the different portions constituting 455 the sections can consist of material of different characteristics. By this means the various portions of the stocking can be made of material with characteristics such as are especially desirable in each.

50 The various portions of the stocking may be joined in any one of a number of ways. For example, and in the preferred embodiment, sections of fabric are joined by sewing. As is well known in the art various types of sewing stitches havebeen made. In applying the invention, it

is possible to resort to any of these well knowri stitches or different sewing stitches might be used. For example, it is possible to use a single chain stitch, a double chain stitch or an interlocked stitch. I prefer to use either a double chaining stitch or a stitch in the nature of an interlocked stitch as will be hereinafter described.

Various well known fabric feeds might be resorted to but in my preferred embodiment I use a looping dial similar to the ones that are found on any well known looping machine. With this in view I produce open work near the edges of the various fabric portions and sew through openings in this work. Thus, when I use the looping machine I impale the fabric sections on the pins of a looping dial.

Except where a tight joint is desired between adjacent sections of a stocking considerable advantage is gained by making the connecting stitches relatively loose so that the edges of adjacent sections will lie in spaced relation. I have found that a novel ornamental effect similar to lace work can thus be attained. Any of a variety of stitch constructions when used in this manner will produce open mesh bands of highly ornamental character which offer many advantages in the way of appearance, mechanical construction, and method of manufacture, over stockings embodying open work effects of a structurally different character.

With this in View my invention comprises a stocking as described above and the method of producing the same.

In using the invention any or all of the above features can be incorporated in a stocking. These and other features and advantages will appear from a more detailed description and from the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a general View of a stocking showing diagrammatically the application of the invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views showing diagrammatically specific applications of the invention to different types of stockings;

Fig. 5 is a detailed enlarged view showing one specific embodiment of the invention and illustrating a stitch structure appropriate for that embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing another specific embodiment of the invention with a stitch structure different from that shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 1 shows generally the application of the invention to a stocking. This View shows the body or leg of the stocking I with the top 2 joined to the leg as at 3 by means of looping or sewing stitches which will be hereinafter more fully described. The stocking as shown is of conventional full fashioned type, but within the scope of the invention it may be of any type. Near the top of the leg portion I is the usual turned welt 4 and that, as is conventional, presents a finished edge. However, as will appear from subsequent discussion, the top of the leg portion I need not have a welt. It may be finished in any way as is well known in the art or have an unfinished edge. Although the preferred embodiment shows a stocking leg of the usual weft knitted type, the invention is not restricted to weft knitted fabric.

The top 2 of the stocking shown in Fig. 1 is made up of a plurality of sections 5 joined together at 3a. The means for joining these sections may be, and preferably is, the same as that used at 3. The sections 5 may be exactly the same or of similar construction or may be decidedly different in structure presenting different characteristics either in the fabric structure or in the material of which the fabric is made. These sections 5 may be the same as section I or different depending upon the most desirable characteristic of fabric at that portion of the garment. As will appear from Fig. l the sections 5 are near the top extremity of the stocking at that part which is usually known as the welt or garter top. However, be it understood, that the joining portions 3 and 3a might be at any point in the length of the stocking where it is desirable to accomplish one or more of the objects of the invention. For example, at any point in the length of the stocking it may be desirable to place a band of distinctive appearance. In that event a juncture, such as appears at So, will be formed at that place in the stocking. On the other hand, it may be desirable to make one portion of the stocking of one material of a characteristic differing from its neighboring portion. In that event fabrics of the desired characteristics are selected and joined as at 30..

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 I show diagrammatically various applications of the invention to a stocking top. In Fig. 2 the leg portion I terminates in a turned welt 4. Joined to this portion I is the top portion 2 made up of one, two, or more turned welts 5 joined together at 3a. As a variation of this the leg portion may be of plain or other fabric up to the juncture 3. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein there is no showing of a turned welt at the top 4a of the leg portion. The portion 2a of Fig. 3 is made of two welt-like elements 5a and 5. The uppermost one 5 is a turned welt similar to that in Fig. 2. The lowermost portion 5a between the upper portion 5 and the open end 4a. of the leg portion I constitutes in this embodiment at ribbed fabric. Likewise both the top portion 22) and the leg portion I may be of plain fabric in which the top portion is continuous or is made of two fabric sections 5b of plain fabric joined together at 3a and joined to the top 4b of the leg portion I at 3. This is illustrated in Fig. 4. Ribbed fabric, plain fabric, turned welts, and Warp fabric are so well known in the art that it is not necessary to illustrate the various types of fabric that can be used in the application of the invention. With this in mind, it will be clear to anyone skilled in the art that there are a vast number of combinations of different types of fabric that can be incorporated in the stocking by using my invention. It will therefore be evident that with such a great number of combinations of different types of fabric, it is possible to meet the requirements of any desired stocking by the use of my invention.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown one specific application of my invention to a stocking that has met great success. The stitches of Figs. 5 and 6 are shown enlarged and distorted for clearness in illustration. Fig. 5 shows the fabric of only the near faces of turned welts in order to avoid confusion. It will be clear in reading Fig. 6 in conjunction with Fig. 5 that the rear faces of the welts are not shown because they become hidden behind the front faces.

In producing this stocking I make the leg portion of normal length or several inches shorter than normal length. In other respects the stocking has all the characteristics of a conventional full fashioned stocking with the addition of petinet work or other open work at II. To do this I start the stocking in the usual way by making the welt. One or more courses before the welt 4 is half completed, I operate a transfer mechanism to transfer the loops of every third needle the distance of one needle to the right or left. This leaves a hole in every third wale throughout the Width of the fabric as shown at II in Fig. 5. One or more courses after the middle of the welt is completed I do the same thing, that is, transfer the loop I la of every third needle the distance of one needle to the right or left. I thereafter complete the welt of the stocking in the usual way. Any type of openwork can be used to produce the holes II. The number of wales between transferred loops need not, of course, be three, but may be varied according to taste. The frequency of the openings produced by the transfer of loops will, however, be somewhat governed by the desired interval between sewed stitches. Thus, when a looping machine is used the frequency of openings is made such that the fabric can be readily impaled on the points of the looping dial. The transfer courses are so positioned that the resultant transfer holes will be superimposed and leave a row of holes through the two thicknesses of fabric immediately adjacent to the top edge of the stocking. See II, Fig. 5.

In a different operation I produce the top portion of the stocking. In the preferred embodiment shown I proceed to knit a welt 5 in the usual way. In this welt I produce, say, corresponding lines of transfer loops IIa similar to those previously described wherein the transfers are made every third Wale, and then complete the welt and finish off with a plurality of courses I2 in the nature of loopers courses. I then cast the welt off the machine. This welt I prefer to turn inside out as will be clearly seen from Figs. 5 and 6. I do this because the loopers courses I2 are normally subject to raveling and by entirely encasing them within the welt they can not normally be manipulated to cause them to ravel. (See Fig. 6.) I then fold the welt at two points I3 away from the loopers courses. I have positioned my transfer courses I Ia so that when the welt is folded in the proper place transfer holes will be superimposed to leave holes running through the two thicknesses of fabric at both edges of the welt.

I can make as many of the welt sections 5 as I wish and join them all together. I sew the welt 5 onto the welt 4 using any desired sewing stitch, for example, such as is shown in Figs. 5

and 6. When doing the sewing on the looping 75 machine I use the holes II to impale the fabric sections on the looper dial pins. If the fabric is to be sewed on some other type of machine the fabric may or may not be equipped with the holes H as preferred.

In Figs. Sand 6 I have shown a sewing stitch made up of two yarns l4 and I5. By removing this sewed yarn, as by raveling or cutting, the stocking can be parted between any two welts 5 or welts 4 and 5 and can thus be adjusted to any desired leg length or to a length that otherwise will best meet the particular needs of the wearer. It will be appreciated that unnecessary strains frequently resulting in the raveling of the fabric mayarise because the top of a stocking is not at a proper height to make proper connection with a garter. From what has just been said it will be evident that such difficulty is obviated in the present stocking. In the preferred embodiment as shown a finished non-raveling edge is presented at the top of the stocking regardless to what length the garment is adjusted. It will also be noted that it is impossible for my stocking to run from section to section as from the particular welt which happens to receive the garter, through lower welts into the leg of the stocking, because the sections are integrally distinct.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the transfer loops as being a course away from the fold line of the welt. This can be varied as desired to produce the desired result, the only limitation being that the two adjacent transfers be made on the same wales and a sufficient distance from the fold line of the welt to cause the holes to be superimposed. When the stocking is boarded, the sewing stitches put tension on the fabric edge. Between the transfer loops the fabric will be extended. When the looping line is cut to adjust the length of the garment, these extended loops will give the edge of the stocking the appearance of picot. The number of courses between transfers will govern the degree of picot effect.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a simple sewing stitch known as the two thread chain stitch. This stitch can be readily removed to separate the sections of fabric. It will also be noted from these figures that the fabric sections are closely spaced. This structure presents a sewing stitch that is ornamental and also can be readily out. However, the embodiment of Figs. '7 and 8 is better adapted for the latter purposes.

In the embodiment of Figs. '7 and 8 I show the fabric sections 5 and the stocking welt 4 joined by a more comprehensive sewing stitch in spaced apart relation. For the sake of uniformity I have shown the stocking welt 4 and the welt section 5 with open work I I made by transfer stitches Ila, and the sewing stitches pass through this open work. The sewing stitches are made of interlocking threads Ma and l5a which may be of different color or otherwise distinctive in appearance. As shown the sewing stitches are elongated, spacing the fabric sections relatively far apart and permitting the stitches to be readily cut to separate the sections without danger of injury to the knitted fabric. The open work effect is attained by the elongation of the sewing stitches and by having the same engage the fabric of the sections at recurrent spaced apart points I I. The greater the distance between the points the more open will be the character of the stitch formation. It is desirable, of course, that in this arrangement the edges of the fabric sections should be finished.

Although I have shown the loose loop sewing stitches in the embodiment of Figs. '7 and 8, it

is to be understood that sewing stitches of Figs. 5 and 6 can be made as loose as those of Figs. '7 and 8 in order to space the fabric sections to insure against cutting the knitted fabric and also to present a pleasing open work or lace-like effect. Likewise the sewing stitches of Figs. '7 and 8 need not be made loose. And be it further understood that my invention is not confined to the specific sewing stitches shown in Figs. 5 to 8 or to two-thread sewing. These are merely illustrative.

In separating sections by cutting as distinguished from the raveling of the looping, it is not necessary to cut the looping stitches. The out can be made in the knitted fabric above the looping and the knitted fabric raveled out to the looping. In. this instance the looping stitches will be left attached to the edge which now constitutes the top edge of the stocking. The stitches can be ornamental with this end in view and the result is a neat edging for the stocking as it is to be used.

It will be readily seen that many pleasing ornamental effects can be made by the proper selection of sewing threads as to color and quality.

Thus it will be seen that by the exercise of my inventiona stocking or certain parts thereof, such as the top, may comprise a plurality of separately formed sections joined together in end to end relation. The use of sewing stitches to join the sections! permits the ready separation of the sections, and although they need not be they are preferably made to give a distinctive ornamental appearance by the use of different kinds or colors of yarns, by constructing the sewing stitch formations so as to have a large mesh and constitute open work bands, or by both expedients combined. The stocking is also susceptible to other ornamentation as is well known in the art. The resultant stocking may be adjustable in length, or comprise different sections of fabric with different characteristics.

I therefore intend that the invention shall not be taken as limited to the specific adaptations which have been illustrated, but shall be construed in accordance with the breadth of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A knitted stocking having one or more circumferential bands of ornamental open work comprising an independent stitch formation constituted of enlarged looping stitches, said stitch formation at each edge thereof engaging the stocking fabric along circumferential lines at only recurrent spaced apart points, which points are spaced apart from each other by one or more knitted fabric loops.

2. A knitted stocking having one or more intermediate circumferential bands of ornamental character, said bands each comprising an open mesh looping stitch formation which engages the stocking fabric along parallel spaced apart circumferential lines, said stitch formation along each line of engagement connecting with the fabric at only recurrent spaced apart points, and there being at least one intervening fabric wale between said points of connection.

3. A stocking comprising a plurality of knitted fabric sections having finished opposing edges, said finished edges being arranged opposite each other in spaced relation, and independently formed bands of ornamental openwork stitching interconnecting the spaced fabric sections by engagement therewith at only spaced apart recurrent knitted wales along the opposing finished edges of the sections.

4. A knitted stocking comprising a plurality of tubular sections arranged end to end, and a circumferential band of ornamental open work comprising an open mesh looping stitch formation lying between and interconnecting the adjacent ends of said fabric sections, said stitch formation engaging each section at only recurrent spaced apart circumferential points, and there being an intervening distance of one or more wales between said points of connection.

5. A stocking comprising a plurality of sections presenting finished edges and ornamental open work comprising open mesh sewing stitches lying between and interconnecting said edges, said open work stitches being interlocked with said sections at only recurrent spaced apart wales.

6. A stocking comprising a plurality of sections of knitted fabric disposed end to end in spaced relation and having finished opposing edges, and an open mesh sewing stitch formation lying between said sections, said stitch formation having loops interlocking with loops of the finished edges of each of the fabric sections at spaced points circumferentially thereof and having loops which interlock with each other independently of the fabric.

7. A stocking comprising a plurality of knitted fabric sections disposed end to end, corresponding rows of enlarged openings in the fabric sec tions adjacent their opposing ends, said openings in size being greater than the knitted loops making up the Wales of the fabric and being spaced apart from each other by at least one intervening Wale of fabric, the fabric sections being interconnected at spaced apart points by a stitch formation having loops which engage the sections only through the spaced enlarged openings.

8. A knitted stocking comprising a plurality of sections disposed end to end in spaced relation, said sections at least in the region of their ends being predominantly of solid fabric, and an independently formed looping stitch formation of open mesh ornamental character interconnecting the ends of the spaced sections, said stitch formation engaging the fabric sections only at recurrent intervals and there being one or more wales intervening'in the intervals between the points of connection.

9. A stocking comprising a plurality of individual knitted fabric sections presenting finished knitted edges at their adjacent ends, said ends being joined in spaced relation by a chain stitch formation presenting elongated loops, the loops of said stitch formation'interlooping with knitted loops along the adjacent fabric edges at only spaced apart recurrent wales.

10. A stocking including an independently constituted double fabric top joined to the upper end of the body portion by a circumferential line of sewing stitches, said top at its upper and lower ends presenting a continuous series of interknit courses which exist independently of said sewing stitches and which are continued from the inner to the outer ply.

11. A stocking including an independently constituted double fabric top having a folded lower edge presenting a continuous series of interknit courses, and having the fabric ends thereof secured in a joint at a point above said lower edge, an extension section of fabric knit beyond the joint to protect the same against raveling and being hidden within the interior of the double fabric top, and an independent line of stitching connecting with the lower edge of the top and securing the top to the upper end of the adjoining'portion of the stocking.

JACOB A. GOODMAN. 

